Starting from the getgo it tells of Grace's early days growing up on a small island off Wales, Anglesey.

There were sand dunes in the distance and rugged monochrome cliffs strung out along the coast. And Druid circles. And hardly any trees. And bleakness. Although it was bleak, I saw beauty in its bleakness. There was a little sailboat called Argo that I used to drift about in for hours in grand seclusion when it was not tethered to a small rock...I was fifteen then, my head filled with romantic fantasies, some feuled by the mystic spirit of Anglesey.

There are Grace's drawings here too along with many fashion shots...

On Growing UP

In which the winds howl,

the waves crash,

the rains pours down,

and our lonely heroine dreams of being Audrey Hepburn.

Is it any wonder that Grace Coddington's pages in Vogue are wildly romantic?

At age eighteen Grace goes off to 60's Swinging London to attend modeling school and win a modeling contest and the rest...

Well Paris waits, Karl and his cats and the haute couture. Many, many intriguing adventures later, including a couple of husbands etc. Grace has the gift of being in the right place at the right time as well as landing on her feet, like any good cat does when she encounters adversity.

Is there a single fabulous fashion photographer Grace hasn't worked with? I doubt it. Yet she remains humble throughout the book to both her creative gifts and open to experiencing everything to the fullest that comes her way.

Her family had a crest, a dragon breathing flames, and a motto: "Nil Desperandum" (Never Despair).

21 comments:

You find the most interesting books and Artists.I am going to have to check her out. I have a new blog now. Ran out of photo space on the last one and wanted to make it easier to get to from my present server. Finally getting rid of the last of AOL's software. :)

Oh yes, she was the best thing about September Issue. Her cat drawings/travel adventures are enchanting! Super-talented woman. I have to order this book now. And I totally love the character and expressions of your cats - more please!

Of course you love Grace Coddington. You're a romantic artist, too. I have to have a little surgery next week and I bought her book to read during my recovery. I can't wait to get to it. I'll obviously HAVE TO get the cat book, too. You just keep doing as many NY posts as you like! There's always a touch of Paris in everything you do!Connie*

She has an interesting look...not beauty, just exotic..., à mon avis...I love that she, like Inès de la fressange, is free to sketch & draw in her own personal way...Your cats: did you have live models?I used to sketch my cats, loved their many poses....(they're long gone now, mes chattes...)

Oops--I must have missed Grace yesterday--I've always liked her. She's an interesting woman. Never saw her cats, though--and yours are great! Fresh Air interviewed her on NPR the other day and I enjoyed it on my commute while I was stuck in traffic.

PARIS in yr Mailbox!

♥carol gillott♥

l'Ile Saint Louis, Paris, Ile de France, France

Hi I'm Carol Gillott,
My Mom taught me watercolors at 5 and I'm still at it. Now I live by the Seine on l'Ile Saint-Louis. Do consider subscribing to my Paris letters and maps on Etsy and enjoy a taste of Paris in your mailbox every month to savor with a hot chocolate and croissant. I paint Paris dreams.